Rostec Dubious Claim: Chinese-Made UAV Counter System Paraded as Russian Innovation

24 November, 2023 Portable system "Chistyulya". Photo credits: RIA The Russian state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec passes off a Chinese-made product as its own development.

The Moscow Times reported on this. The Russian state-owned defense conglomerate has recently announced the completion of the development of a "Russian-made" Chistyulya Counter UAV System. "Amid growing demand for counter UAV systems, the holding's companies are actually working from the ground up, developing new modifications of such equipment," said Alexey Kravchenko, the system's "developer," CEO of TsNII Cyclone.

One of Rostec's structural units, Roselektronika, demonstrated the product in Moscow, claiming that it is capable of jamming control and navigation channels of drones within a radius of one kilometer, as well as blocking the transmission of photos and videos from UAVs.

Aliexpress has a similar system. Source: screenshot from the Aliexpress website

In the Chinese online store Aliexpress, it was possible to find an identical product that can be purchased at a price of £700 to £2,000. It can be assumed that the Russians have localized the production of this device in their country or organized its assembly from Chinese parts.

It is not known what the purchase price is for the Russian Ministry of Defense, but according to Russian tradition, it is most likely higher than the price on marketplaces. As an example, TMT journalists cited the Sibiryachok-1 drone, whose cost does not exceed RUB 200,000, and the Ministry of Defense bought it for RUB 2 million. It is also not known what scheme the procurement of the system or individual components is organized under.

Sibyryachok-1 drone.

Photo from open sources

Militarnyi reported in September 2023 that restrictions imposed by China led to disruptions in the supply of drones and their parts to Russia.

The restrictions have led to a shortage of a number of parts, including thermal imagers and laser rangefinders.

There is already a shortage of certain types of drones weighing more than 4 kilograms.